Botswana's bold offer to Berlin: 20,000 elephants amid trophy ban row

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi has voiced his dissatisfaction with proposed regulatory changes in Germany, particularly the announcement of further restrictions on importing hunting trophies.

In an unexpected move, Botswana has proposed presenting 20,000 elephants to Berlin, a gesture that stems from the Green Party's stance on wild animal hunting and the importation of hunting souvenirs.

In an interview with the newspaper "Bild," President Masisi openly expressed his frustration with the German Environment Minister, Steffi Lemke, and the Green Party's ban on the importation of hunting trophies—an action taken by one of the European Union's largest importers of such items. This scenario is poised for change with the introduction of stringent restrictions.

President Masisi lamented that this ban would reduce hunting activity in his country, emphasizing that successful nature conservation efforts in Botswana have led to an elephant population surge. He highlighted that hunting plays a crucial role in managing this growth.

After a five-year ban, Botswana reinstated hunting in 2019, succumbing to local community pressures. The country now manages population control through annual hunting quotas.

"If the Greens think they have all the answers, let them and Lemke demonstrate how to coexist with elephants without hunting," President Masisi remarked. He seriously proposed sending thousands of wild elephants to Germany, confirming to "Bild" that he was not jesting.

Thanks to decades of successful conservation efforts, Botswana's elephant population has soared to over 130,000, with an annual increase of approximately 6,000 elephants. These growing herds have been reported by "Bild" to cause significant damage, demolishing villages and destroying crops.

President Masisi also warned that reducing hunting could impoverish Botswana's residents. "It's all too easy for people in Berlin to form opinions about our situation in Botswana. We bear the financial burden of maintaining these animals, from which the world has benefitted without consideration," Masisi stated.